Rui En apologises at Star Awards Show 1

The Star Awards may be a collective celebration, but all eyes were only on one person: Actress Rui En.

At this year’s Star Awards Show 1, everyone was curious to see if she would refer to her accident last week: She had hit a stationary motorcycle in a car park in Clementi. No one was injured in that incident.

While the 35-year-old actress refused to talk to the media before the show, she was forthright on stage, when she went up to accept the All-Time Favourite Artiste Award.

Pointing out that she faced “tough challenges” in her life, the usually cool actress spoke in a shaky voice, in between long pauses as tears welled in her eyes. “To be a good artiste, not only do I have to act well, but I also have to present my best self to the public,” she said. “For a frank person like me, when every expression is written on my face, that might inevitably cause some controversy and unhappiness. Even now, I ask myself every day whether I’m suited for this industry.

“Because the case is still under investigation, I hope you can forgive me as I can’t respond to the media before (the investigation) has concluded,” she added. “I want to apologise for all the inconvenience I’ve brought to everyone.”

She also thanked her fans and others who have given her their “unconditional love” in the last 14 years and expressed gratitude to her management Hype Records “for supporting me no matter what happens and what mistakes I make”.

“Thank you Lord for walking me through this. Once again, I’m sorry,” she said, bowing.

In a speech that resembled a less emotional version of Rui En’s, Rebecca Lim, who received her fifth Top 10 Most Popular Female Artiste award, pointed out that a lot of things had happened this year. She received flak for announcing that she was retiring and then doing a U-turn after revealing it was for a campaign with insurance company NTUC Income.

“What happened allowed someone like me, who has lived in relative comfort all this while, to gain unexpected experiences and new philosophies,” she said. “I’ve been in the industry for 10 years. I believe there are many more decades to go for me to become a better person, better actress and better idol. This (award) is not something I take for granted, I will cherish this.”

Actresses in controversial incidents aside, Show 1, typically seen as a more low-key show — given that the most hotly-anticipated awards are usually handed out in Show 2, was several shades more glitzy than usual. It was given a boost in the glam department this year with not one, but two red carpets. The awards ceremony, now in its 22nd run, was not short of star-power as well. Local singer Kit Chan, South Korean actor Park Hae Jin and Taiwanese host Hu Gua were some of the big names who attended last night.

It was also full of surprises. Actresses Ya Hui and Paige Chua were snubbed for the Top 10 Most Popular Female Artiste award, while Jayley Woo managed to grab a coveted spot for the first time.

Julie Tan, who won the Rocket Award, was visibly emotional and shocked by her win. While she thanked the people who discovered her and who “supported her all the way”, she also hit back at her detractors. “When I was young, everyone thought my dream was admirable, but when I grew up, everyone put it down. To those who were negative about my dream, I want to say, I did it.”

“Chasing your dreams is a lonely journey,” she said backstage. “But you must believe in yourself.”

Jeanette Aw also lost her “Social Media Queen” crown after nabbing the award for the last two years. The honour went to relative newbie Carrie Wong instead. Wong, who has 139,000 fans on Instagram (compared to Aw’s 271,000) said she had no strategy on her social media outlets.

“I post whatever I feel like posting,” she said.

Veteran actor Chen Shu Cheng also beat other veterans such as Xiang Yun and Lin Meijiao to clinch the Best Evergreen Artistes Award. Calling the win a “rare honour”, Chen added: “This award came just in time. I’m not young anymore. In the next few years if I don’t get the award, I won’t get another chance.”

Actor Qi Yuwu also picked up the All-Time Favourite Artiste Award. He cut a more relaxed figure on stage than Rui En, comparing his career as that of a seedling growing into a tree. (Incidentally, he once had to act as a tree spirit, which he felt he did very well, because “I was so wooden”.)

He also acknowledged the people who supported him through the years. “When the tree became confused and lost, there were people who gave me direction and guidance. Without these people, this tree wouldn’t have found himself, and wouldn’t have found a home in Singapore,” he added.

When asked why he didn’t mention his wife Joanne Peh, he said: “Because she is part of the family whom I’ve thanked ... I’ve already said whatever I wanted to say to her at home.”

As for his take on Rui En, he said: “Everyone’s an adult. We need to be responsible for our actions and I think she should be clear on what she needs to do. I don’t need to say anything more.” ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY MAY SEAH, HON JING YI AND GENEVIEVE LOH